The holidays can be both joyful and exhausting when you have a baby or toddler, and breastfeeding can add another challenging element to navigate.
Whether it’s unsolicited advice and criticism or schedules that make breastfeeding tricky, a little preparation and shift in mindset can make a big difference.
Top tips for breastfeeding over the holidays:
If you anticipate criticism and unsolicited advice from well-meaning friends and family, it’s ok to be vague when they ask loaded questions, as a way of shutting down the conversation before it gets heated.
There’s a lot about breastfeeding that is misunderstood by a good portion of our society, so think about some phrases you can respond with before your holiday gatherings and try not to take things too personally.
Going to a quiet room to nurse can give both you and your baby a nice break and can help distracted nurslings focus.
Staying close to your baby so you don’t miss their feeding cues and somewhat paying attention to the clock can help so you don’t miss nursing sessions. Some babies get really distracted and overwhelmed when in a different setting with lots going on and may want to nurse more often for comfort and others will go longer stretches without nursing. If you have a newborn or young baby, make sure to offer the breast if your baby is going longer than they typically do between nursing.
Bringing a hand pump along can be a lifesaver if your baby goes a little longer than normal between nursing sessions and you start to get uncomfortable. Forgot your pump? You can always hand express!
Be creative. Some babies will nurse anywhere and others are very particular about the environment.
Each mom’s breastmilk storage capacity is different, and some moms are more sensitive to changes in nursing than others. It’s not uncommon for moms to notice a dip in supply over the holidays where stress and changes in routine are high. Doing what you can to relax as much as possible and keep nursing/removing milk frequently can help you to stay on track once the weary days of holiday get-togethers are behind you.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!
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